Device for scanning and centering containers filled with a liquid

Abstract

An analyzer is described including a mechanism for scanning containers having variable diameters arranged in a tray and filled with body fluids, and for fixing the container and tray relative to an aspiration station for purposes of centering the aspiration probe to the containers. The scanning and positional centering mechanism include two movable scanning elements and a sensor which is associated with both elements and can be activated by them. The scanning elements are arranged normal to a pivotable transporter providing a transport path for the containers and preferably by means of two spring elements, retained in initial positions towards the transport path. By pivoting the transporter from a tray track to a scanning station for the containers, the scanning elements are moved to end positions and the sensor produces a signal which will depend upon the diameter of the container as positioned at the scanning station. The container is thereby centered as well as fixed in a tray by way of the scanning element and associated spring element while the tray is also centered and fixed on the transport path. The signal length produced by scanning elements and detected by the sensor is fed to a microprocessor of a control unit and is used to control the position and dip-in speed of a proboscis of an aspirator when body fluid is removed from the container.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.